A three-day survey of dragonflies and damselflies has been launched across seven DDA biodiversity parks in Delhi, including the Kamla Nehru Ridge and Yamuna Biodiversity Park. The survey, earlier conducted in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024, is crucial for monitoring ecosystem health.

About Dragonflies and Damselflies

• Belong to the order Odonata.
  • Odonata is an order of insects comprising dragonflies and damselflies.
• Bioindicators of ecosystem health as they require clean water and diverse habitats for breeding and larval stages.
• Ecological role:
  • Predators – feed on mosquitoes and other small insects, thus reducing vector-borne disease risk.
  • Prey – support birds, frogs, and other aquatic life, making them an integral part of the food web.
• Key Findings & Observations
  • Flooding and changing rainfall patterns in Delhi have brought new species, possibly from upstream areas like Panipat, Saharanpur, and Dehradun.
  • Population surges were noted with increased water levels and marshy areas.
  • Dragonflies help control dengue and mosquito-borne diseases, making them critical for urban health management.

• Threats: Loss of freshwater habitats (wetlands, marshes, swamps), Invasive alien species, pollution and excavation of river beds, climate change-induced droughts and habitat shifts.
• Global Concern: According to IUCN’s 2021 assessment, 16% of 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies are at risk of extinction due to the destruction of.
  

MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements about dragonflies and damselflies:

1. They are classified under the order Odonata.
2. They serve as important bioindicators of ecosystem health.
3. They act only as prey in the food chain and do not play a role as predators.
4. According to IUCN (2021), about 16% of species are at risk of extinction globally.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

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